Life on the High Road -- September 29th, 2010

Join us every Wednesday at 9:40am in the Jump Theater at Second Baptist West to hear Pam Thompson teach Life on the High Road in person! Come journey with us as learn to navigate life, maneuvering through life's pitfalls and raodblocks while enjoying the scenery along the way.

Week One – The High Road

I. Introduction

Very rarely does reality meet our expectations. Life on the High Road is all about abandoning my expectations and following God’s plan.

II. The Two Roads

Matthew 7:13-14: Jesus says,“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Way – “hodos” -- Simply means the road where you are walking

Narrow – “thlibo”-- Pressed in, crowded, verb form means to have affliction

Broad – “euruchoros” -- Spacious, open, you can see all around

Destruction – “apoleia” -- Wasteland, nothingness, hell

Life – “zoe” -- Energy, purpose, joy, abundance, more than you can conceive

Pam shared a story about the Fat Man’s Squeeze in Rock City, Tennessee. The Fat Man’s Squeeze is a spot at the top of a cliff where the rocks are so narrow you have to literally squeeze through them. Tour guides instruct you to leave everything behind – do not carry anything through this squeeze as you will not make it through. Leave your purse, put down your children, leave it all if you want to make it through Fat Man’s Squeeze. If you start to feel claustrophobic, just look up. Much the same for choosing the narrow “hodos” or road in life. Jesus is telling us leave it all behind, put down your burdens, trust me with your finances, your children, your difficult circumstances – and come follow me. It will not be easy. Much like Fat Man’s Squeeze it will be uncomfortable, but look up. Hold on to me and I will lead you to the abundant, energetic, purposeful life that is planned for you. Pam remembers once you make it through the Fat Man’s Squeeze, there was such beauty to behold. You could see for miles – there was freedom. Much the same will be our life on the narrow road if we will trust Jesus, leave it all behind, and follow Him.

Isaiah 55: 8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Thoughts – “machashavah” -- A plan, imagination, intention, an organized thinking

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts I have for you”, says the Lord.

This word thoughts is “machashavah”.

Way – “derekh” again is the Hebrew word for road

On the narrow road, we have to remember that God’s ways are so much higher than ours – His plan is so much greater for us. This verse in Isaiah is saying that God’s thoughts of us, His plans for us, his imagination for us is so much higher and greater than we could ever think or imagine for ourselves. We have to hold on to that truth when life on the narrow road becomes difficult.

III. The Road to Emmaus – Luke 24: 13-53

When expectations & reality don’t meet

Emmaus means “hot bath”

This is the story of two villagers on their way to Emmaus, a town about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They are talking with each other about Jesus death, and the fact that Simon Peter has claimed that when he visited the tomb it was empty. As they are traveling, Jesus himself comes up and walks along with them. He traveled with them much of the way and stayed with them once they reached Emmaus. When they sat down to dinner, Jesus broke bread, and gave thanks. That is when they realized who He was and that all Simon Peter had claimed was true. Their eyes were opened.

The Low Road

This is the road we are on when we do not recognize Jesus in our day or our circumstance, not seeing him in the midst, not trusting Him.

My viewpoint is horizontal rather than vertical.

John 19:11, Acts 2:22-23, Acts 4:27-28

My own agenda determines my expectations.

Fill in the blank with your own personal expectation. “I was hoping_______________________”

I fail to acknowledge the resurrection of Christ and its impact upon my current circumstances.

The High Road

When you see Jesus on your road

1. I view my life through God’s eyes.

Proverbs 17:24 (The Message) “The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; Fools look for it everywhere but right here.”­­­­­­­­

2. I surrender my expectations.

3. I acknowledge the resurrection of Christ and stake my current circumstances upon it.

I follow Christ and giving back becomes a natural part of my journey.

IV. Habakkuk 3: 17-19